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CARPENTER BRUT “Leather Temple”
CARPENTER BRUT “Leather Temple”
By Dr. Abner Mality
“Leather Temple” takes place in a dystopian future where cybernetic overlords prey upon helpless humans in a neon-choked metropolis. Now that concept has got the 1980’s all over it in huge neon letters and that is where CARPENTER BRUT belongs…a world of terminators, replicants, leather rebels and cities where it always rains.
CARPENTER BRUT is a leader in the modern synthwave movement and after hearing the action-packed and shimmering “Leather Temple”, I’d say his position is unchallenged. There are more than a few of these retro-future bands now…GOST come to mind…but this record just hits the bullseye. It’s propelled by drums that sound real and fuelled by actual RIFFS that any metalhead can enjoy. In another plus, the songs are also compact and there isn’t a wasted moment; only one track exceeds six minutes. If you liked the part in the original “Terminator” sound track where the killer robots were hunting the future humans, then this album is for you. Other touchstones include “Escape From New York” and “Blade Runner”.
Except for some bits of dialogue, it’s all instrumental. The vocals are unnecessary to CARPENTER BRUT’s musical vision so they are pared away. That leaves room for pulsating beats and muscular synth-riffs. Tracks like “Major Threat”, “Start Your Engines” and “Iron Sanctuary” (they all sound like metal titles, too) throb with energy and excitement. “Neon Requiem” adds a kind of soaring, futuristic vibe to the album while “The End Complete” (a nod to OBITUARY, maybe?) ends things on a slightly less frantic, more thoughtful note. There’s a heavy feel of 80’s nostalgia to it all.
This can certainly be considered dance music due to the constant beat but it’s tough and mean without being needlessly noisy. The album blows by in a hurricane and you immediately feel like hitting play again once it’s over. That’s the sign of a good record, be it synthwave, metal, EBM or whatever you call it.
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